Dalai Lama: I’m quitting politics now

The Dalai Lama is to give up his political powers as a member of the Tibetan government in exile, he has confirmed.

Dalai Lama is giving up his political powers (AFP/Getty Images)

He wants an elected representative to take over his role which involves signing laws and administering oaths.

Speaking on the anniversary of the failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule in his Himalayan homeland that sent him into exile, the Dalai Lama said: ‘As early as the 1960s, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power.

‘Now we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect.’

Although he is in good health, the 76-year-old Buddhist is planning for his retirement.

The decision was greeted with derision in Beijing. A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said: ‘These are his tricks to deceive the international community.’

She called him ‘a political exile under a religious cloak now engaged in activities aimed at splitting China.’

Beijing’s communist-led government will attempt to pick its own replacement for him.

Whoever replaces him in politics faces a tough job because no other exiled individual carries his influence.